Karachi Safari Park elephant Madhubala is in a grave condition, as it has fallen ill and now cannot stand on its own.
The female elephant, who has suffered multiple health problems for more than a year, collapsed on Monday morning.
Later, it was stabilised with the help of a crane and a supporting belt by the authorities at Safari Park.
Officials have been in constant touch with Sri Lankan wildlife health specialist Dr Budhika Bhandara regarding Madhubala’s condition, said Safari Park director Amjad Zaidi.
Zaidi said Madhubala is suffering from swelling in the right hind thigh, which is impacting her movement of that leg.
The cause of the swelling will be determined following additional medical examinations; he said it could have been caused by a fight between her and Malika, her animal companion.
A local veterinary team is expected to perform an X-ray, blood and urine testing.
Zaidi shared that Madhubala had already recovered from tuberculosis after undergoing an 18-month treatment programme and had also beaten a foot infection. She was still eating and otherwise was stable, he added.
However, many expert veterinarians think her situation to be life-threatening.
A vet said that Madhubala was very weak and that it was possible that if she can’t stand or walk anymore, it would put additional strain on her organs, which would ultimately lead to her death.
Madhubala was previously kept at Karachi Zoo where she was left alone after her companion Noor Jehan fell inside her enclosure and died in 2023.
At the time of her autopsy, investigators determined that Noor Jehan had been stricken with a blood parasitic infection and a significant amount of internal trauma.
Madhubala was transferred to Safari Park in November 2024, where she was reunited with her sisters Sonia and Malika with the care of an international animal welfare organisation, Four Paws.
This was a brief reunion; a month later, Sonia collapsed and died. Multiple chronic diseases of vital organs were detected by tests.
This resulted in anger over the KMC and an 18-member committee to look after Madhubala and Malika was formed.